The government is expected to come up with a set of measures to crack down on fake news later this month, a senior official said Wednesday.

Minister Hong Nam-ki, chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said during a parliamentary audit that the government is committed to deal sternly with fake news without hurting freedom of expression.

"We're discussing comprehensive measures with related ministries and agencies," Hong said. "We will be able to announce measures within this month."

Asked what the criteria is for fake news, Hong said it means "clearly false and fabricated information."

Rep. Lee Tae-kyu of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party raised concern that the government's push to crack down on face news could foster an atmosphere of a totalitarian nation.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has strongly denounced fake news as a "disturber of democracy" and ordered stern measures after a guestbook message he left at late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh's residence last month was falsely regarded online as being for North Korea's leadership. (Yonhap)